
March 1, 2009
January 20, 2012
January 19, 2012
January 19, 2012 [HKMDB Daily News]
Austin TX: A Watery Grave Narrowly Avoided
35mm prints of lost HK actioners unspool in the Alamo’s Asian Invasion series
TimeOutHK: Father Franco Mella
Portrayed in film by Anthony Wong in “Ordinary Heroes” (1999).
TimeOutHK: Dante Lam interview
Director Dante Lam is on the highway to becoming Hong Kong’s next action auteur. Expect more gunfire in his hard-hitting latest, The Viral Factor
Jay Chou was willing to risk life and limb while filming his latest movie, The Viral Factor, all because of “face”.
THR: Taiwan Stands Tall as ‘Warriors of the Rainbow’ Earns Foreign-Language Oscar Shortlist Spot
Wei, one of Taiwan’s most commercially and critically successful directors, received the news in the middle of the Asian night. He was unsure why Warriors had made the shortlist while the rest of East Asia is staying home. Asian films played no part in any major category last year.
The film stars Cecilia Cheung, Sang-woo Kwon, Angela Chang and Jing Boran
“The Great Magician” debuted with $11.55 million over four days and managed to wrestle the first place from the highest-grossing hit of the year 2011″The Flowers of War”. “Magician”is the latest film directed by Derek Yee, who is good at balancing commercial success with artistic integrity very successfully.
Smaller films made big splash
Over the past year, three small-budget movies, Eternal Moment, The Piano in a Factory and Love is Not Blind, flexed their competitive muscle by attracting audiences and critical praise.
According to Chen Shan, professor at the Beijing Film Academy, the allure of small-budget films in the era of big-budget blockbusters is their ingenuity.
“Because their original cost is much lower, they can be more flexible with their themes. They dare to try something different from the mainstream, while blockbusters have to be more cautious,” he said to the Global Times.
Singapore director Jack Neo is evidently sticking to his winning formula - fresh-faced teen actors, heart-breaking family drama and a healthy dose of social commentary in his latest directorial offering, We Not Naughty.
Famous comedian Zhao Benshan will not perform on this year’s “CCTV Spring Festival Gala” because of health problems.
Johnnie To’s “Romancing in Thin Air” launches, with a bang, on Feb. 9
Guest stars in “The Great Magician” include Tsui Hark, Benz Kong, Jamie Luk, Vincent Kok, writer Lau Ho-Lueng and dubbing director Chiang Siu-Leung.
Tsui Hark
Eight military governors (Sina)
Stills from “All’s Well Ends Well 2012″
Louis Koo, Kelly Chen
Sandra Ng, Donnie Yen
Chapman To, Lynn Hung
Lynn Hung, Chapman To (Sina)
Donnie Yen, Vincent Zhao, Jing Tian, Zhang Hanyu, Yang Kun attended the Beijing launch of a new Clarence Fok film (Chinese title, Special Status). Donnie Yen will action direct as well as produce. Peter Pau is the cinematographer for the film.
Vincent Zhao, Donnie Yen (Sina)
Photos from Dubai where “Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains” is filming. The film stars Andy Lau, Chen Kun and Zhang Jingchu.
Lin Chi-ling tries on a prop
Filming on a closed road
The crew prepares for a scene
Director Sun Jianjun (r)
Two British bandits (Sina-gallery)
“Harpoon” poster featuring Hu Bing (Sina)
Jay, Hannah, Nic, Viral Factor, Wang Lee-Hom, Kanye West
“We didn’t plan for a Dragon baby,” says 38-year-old Michele Lee, who is expecting her second child, a girl, in April.
“It was exciting when we first found out the news but very soon that excitement turned into worry about whether we’ll get a place in hospital.”
January 17, 2012
January 13, 2012
January 13, 2012 [HKMDB Daily News]
Herman Yau has begun working on a “Inception”-like thriller called “Qing Yan”. Fiona Sit and mainland actor Huang Xuan will head the cast. (Sina)
A few posters for the Valentine’s Day Chrissie Chau mainland thriller “Night Club Suspense Tales”.
TaipeiTimes: Black and White Episode 1: The Dawn of Assault review
Tsai Yueh-hsun’s action blockbuster-to-be elevates the country’s filmmaking industry to a new level
TaipeiTimes: Flying Dragon, Dancing Phoenix review
Kuo, a real-life operatic diva, hands in an amazing debut performance on the silver screen as she plays both Chun-mei, a woman who plays men, and Micky, a man who plays a woman who plays men. It is a pleasure to watch the operatic veteran toy with the idea of gender roles through her varied acting, while staying true to her two characters.
Still from “Flying Dragon, Dancing Phoenix”
CF: Behind-the-scenes Footage of “Crazy Dinner” Released, (CF)
Starring Liu Hua, Fan Wei, Huang Bo, Mo Xiaoqi, Dai Lele and Liu Yajin, the film is slated to hit cinema screens nationwide on January 23,2012.
Derek Yee pleases mainland market
He has set his latest work, The Great Magician, in Beijing. It’s his first comedy for almost 30 years.
The film, based on a popular novel set in the early 20th century in the capital, reveals how amagician wins back his lover from a warlord.
The novel is a melancholy melodrama, but Yee has turned it into a comedy to pleaseaudiences.
CF: Youku Signs Content Deal With Twentieth Century Fox
Youku Inc., China’s leading Internet television company (”Youku”), announced a deal with Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on 11 Jan, under which Youku will license 250 titles of new release and library films.
CF: Deals and Disputes Multiply in China Video Sector, (FBA)
Independent Australian-Canadian sex shop comedy Red Light Revolution (2010) has also been picked up for release by Tudou Inc.
You Are the Apple of My Eye
Thanks to China’s censors, several scenes that make up nine minutes of the movie were edited out. Apparently, things like masturbation and kissing are deemed unsuitable for general viewing in China. Also, the character Boner, has had his name changed to something more innocuous.
Ko was noticeably absent from a promotion event held in Shanghai earlier this month, but he flew into Beijing to meet fans on Monday. He said that he didn’t attend the event because he was upset about the deleted scenes.
Yang, 25, became one of the most popular actresses with a rise to instant fame in 2011. The Beijing native began acting at 4 years old and rose to fame for her role in the TV series “Palace” in 2011.
The two actresses are rumoured to be unhappy about how their names are placed in promotional materials
The cast list on the movie poster also came in two different formats. In the Taiwanese version, Shu Qi’s name was listed before Vicki, while in the Chinese version, the latter’s name was listed first. The movie production company was said to have used this method to pacify both actresses.
Posters for Doze Niu’s “Love”
Sorrows and Joys of Love edition (Sina), 2, 3
The Hong Kong singer found out the gender of his baby after taking his wife to an ultrasound scan
China is battling what it sees as a subversive challenge: an academic survey showing that many in this former British colony identify little with China.
More photos from the MontBlanc event in Beijing
Wu Chun
Vivian Hsu is ready to spin the Wheel of Fortune!
Vivian Hsu
Wu Chun, Vivian Hsu, Kevin Tsai, Yang Lan (one of the “Chinese Oprahs”) (Sina-slideshow)
January 12, 2012
January 12, 2012 [HKMDB Daily News]
CRI: Actress Yu Nan to Star in ‘The Expendables 2′
Born in 1978, Yu Nan studied acting at the Beijing Film Academy, China’s top educational institution for film talent.
Her acting talent was discovered by director Wang Quan’an who cast her in the lead role of the 1999 film “Lunar Eclipse”. Yu later worked with Wang Quan’an in several more films, the best-known one being “Tuya’s Marriage”, which garnered the top prize at the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival.
Yu’s fluency in English also landed her a role in Wachowski brothers’ 2008 live-action film “Speed Racer”. She also speaks French.
CRI: 3D Monkey King Makes Debut in China
Western classic music has been added into the film soundtrack catering to the international market, compared to the traditional version featuring the music of Chinese opera.
A group of popular actors, singers and directors including Feng Xiaogang, Yao Chen, and Chen Daoming have been invited to dub for the film.
FBA: Fuchun Mountains spring up in Dubai
The story involves a gang of thieves who attempt to steal one of China’s most famous landscape paintings, Huang Gongwang’s “Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains”. The mid-14th century work was burnt into two halves in 1650 that in recent decades have been kept in separate museums in Taipei and Hangzhou, China.
Lin Chi-Ling at the press conference
Zhang Jingchu
Andy Lau answers questions (Sina-gallery)
The new date now sets the 13 city release before the awards and before the nominations are announced on 24 Jan 2012.
SG Movie review: The Great Magician (A1)
Forget about the plot and this happy mishmash of genres and cliches actually surprises you.
Expect great acting and moments of lucid philosophical insights into love and politics.
Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Lau Ching-Wan
Lau Ching-Wan
Lau Ching-Wan using a unique weapon, a turkey drumstick from a Renaissance Fair
Tony Leung fights ninja
Zhou Xun and Lau Ching-Wan fighting
Yan Ni and Lau Ching-Wan (Sina-gallery)
A1: China’s daredevils to stars
It may look like a horrific road accident, but Li is actually working and this is the eighth time he has been hit in one morning.
CF: Mainland Box Office Performance in First Week 2012
The most anticipated new-released movie “You Are the Apple of My Eye” is now deemed as a dark horse, earning a strong $4.35 million through its three days debut.
Cherie Chung appearing in Beijing for MontBlanc.
Hong Gu looks like she’s ready to appear in “Bauhinia Woman”! (Sina-slideshow)
CNA: Jay Chou: “Honestly, going on matchmaking sessions is just tragic!”
MSN: Jackie Chan flirts with female co-star on-set
MSN: Aaron Kwok and Lynn Hung to announce marriage this year?
MSN: Edison Chen to quit smoking for Janice Man?
When Janice expressed dislike for smokers, he shot a video, which said he would quit smoking, on New Year’s Eve. Later, he added a video of himself after exercising, and confessed that he has asthma, with hopes that his actions would touch the model.
January 10, 2012
January 10, 2012 [HKMDB Daily News]
Taiwan’s Ariel Lin bounces back into movies with a slick rom-com about a love-shy young woman.
“Dear Enemy” is a poor movie in almost every sense, a rating of four out of 10 does it enough justice. The only explanation for its popularity is perhaps that moviegoers have had too much intense viewing of late with “The Flowers of War” and “Flying Swords of Dragon Gate”, so that a modern, light-hearted film holds some appeal for them for a change, never mind how cheesy it is.
Movie Review: Turning Point: Laughing Gor returns (A1)
Once again, that Hong Kong movie malaise of an uneven plot and bad acting kicks in. Some scenes - particularly between Tse and Ng - are good, some simply barmy.
CF: Actress Zhao Wei and Actor Huang Xiaoming Cooperate for the First Time
Huayi Brothers, the production company behind the urban romance “LOVE”, invited actor Huang Xiaoming to shoot a short film in an effort to promote the film “LOVE”. The short film will be screened prior to the feature length movie’s release on February 14, during the Valentine’s Day slot.
Huang Xiaoming
Zhao Wei (Sina)
CF: Launch Ceremony for “Mission: Rescue” Held in Beijing
CF: Still Life with Zhang Yimou: Authorized Biography Hits the Stands
Love in the Buff will be released simultaneously in Hong Kong and the Mainland
Guo Tao and Rose Chan have finished their part in the film shoot of Xiong Xinxin’s “Glory Days” in Yunnan.
SGYahoo: Sean Lau & Deannie Yip shine in Hong Kong, (FBA)
The Hong Kong Film Critics Society announced veteran actor Sean Lau Ching Wan as the winner of the Best Actor Award and Deannie Yip the winner of the Best Actress Award at the 18th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards.
MSN: Jackie Chan’s wife supervises his filming
Jackie Chan was in Taiwan recently, to shoot a scene for his 101th movie 12 Zodiacs, with his wife, retired actress Joan Lin in tow.
Jackie and wife
Jackie guides actress Yao Xingtong
Co-star Korean Kwon Sang-hoo
A1: Is Janice Man Edison Chen’s new girl?
SGYahoo: Edison Chen’s new girlfriend
MSN: Cecilia Cheung shares short homemade videos
Recently, the actress took interest in producing online video clips, in which her two sons were lead actors.
Lucas (Sina-gallery)
MSN: Cecilia Cheung responds to reconciliation rumour
The actress appeared to be in a great mood at a recent event appearance
MSN: Aaron Kwok unscathed from 3–metre high fall
The singer hopes to stage another concert in Hong Kong soon
Decked in a hat and dark shades, Hong Kong veteran singer Aaron Kwok appeared stylishly handsome when he graced the opening ceremony of a shopping mall yesterday.
In The 33D Invader, Wu plays Future, a woman who travels from the year 2046 to 2011 in search of a healthy man to impregnate her because the entire male population had become sterile due to alien radiation.
Meanwhile, Wu appears to be at a crossroad in her life. She posted on her Weibo account on Christmas Day: “The older you get, the less you know about what you want, which gets you thinking harder about what you want.
“So what do I really want?”
The 39-year-old was among 40 celebrities helping ambitious teenagers fulfill their dreams.
Pan Qianqian is the new singing sensation in China.
Her boss realised her talent and encouraged her to take part in the Star Way, a major singing competition organised by China Central Television (CCTV).
Her ability to sing in both female and male tones helped her win the monthly competition and boosted her to fame when the show was broadcast in October last year.
January 7, 2012
Mr. and Mrs. Incredible (Hollywood Reporter review)
Mr. and Mrs. Incredible
1/7/2012 by Maggie Lee
The Bottom Line
Lightweight family entertainment with two spunky leads.
HONG KONG – A fantasy-adventure about a pair of retired superheroes’ attempt to regain their mojo in bed as well as in the martial arts world, Mr and Mrs Incredible is Hong Kong director Vincent Kok’s (whose writing credits include CJ7) refashioning of Mr and Mrs Smith and The Incredibles into a Chinese context. Neither as sexy and as high-powered in action as the former, nor as witty and as creative as the latter, it just about sustains it thin, nonsensical plot with two charismatic leads. Where it soars is wondrous, exotic visuals, especially the well-honed CGI.
Winsome but not laugh-out-loud funny, it is a moderately enjoyable diversion for family viewers. Even if it didn’t perform superhuman feats at its main markets of China and Hong Kong, it remains a credible choice for any fantasy or children’s fests beyond Asia.
In the eyes of the townsfolk of a hilly village far from the Imperial Capital, Flint (Louis Koo) and Rouge (Sandra Ng) make an inconspicuous married couple. But five years ago, they were known as Gazer Warrior and Aroma Woman — superheroes whose paranormal power made them so in demand they decided to retire. The flashbacks to their crime fighting and meet-cute episodes display the childlike, fantastical quality of comic books. Gazer’s defeat of the “Evil Pests” (bank robbers who transform into reptilian monsters) is choreographed with acrobatic verve but is also grotesque in a wacky, cartoonish way.
However, the comic and romantic rhythm gradually goes out of whack for want of any new ideas. With the two leads’ breezy chemistry already well-established, the couple’s urge for a child and to rekindle their passion in the middle section have a universal resonance that could rise above the film’s level of sight gags and verbal showmanship. However, the screenplay cops out with a pedestrian love triangle that recycles a plot twist in Kok’s own Forbidden City Cop lock, stock and barrel.
The anything-goes manner in which Kok switches genres from light comedy to love issues to action is driven home in a martial arts ranking tournament that combines all these elements. The final extended showdown with the arch villain (whose identity even a tyke would have guessed) is a fanfare of lightning and laser beams. It is certainly noisy and zappy but the quality of the CGI is the least refined in the whole film and the action choreography (consisting of actors just lurching at each other) is inferior to the elaborate movements in the earlier scenes.
Supposedly set in ancient China, the prettily-wrought production design and inventively tailored costumes transport one into something more magical, like a Chinese theme park. The lush color textures and mellow light-and-dark contrasts enhance the fairytale impression.
Venue: Hong Kong Filmart Industry Screenings
Sales: We Distribution Limited
Production: We Pictures
Cast: Sandra Ng, Louis Koo, Wang Po-chieh, Li Qin, Wen Zhang
Director-screenwriter: Vincent Kok
Screenwriter: Fung Min-hang
Producer: Peter Ho-Sun Chan
Director of photography: Peter Ngor
Production designer: Cyrus Ho
Music: Raymond Wong
Costume designer: Yee Chung Man
Editor: Chung Wai Chiu
No rating, 105 minutes.
THR
January 6, 2012
January 6, 2012 [HKMDB Daily News]
CRI: ’The Great Magician’ Premieres in Hong Kong, (CF)
The film, set against the backdrop of early 20th century China, is about a magician, played by Tony Leung Chiu-wai, who returns to his home town only to find his childhood sweetheart, played by Zhou Xun, has become a concubine to a warlord (Sean Lau Ching-wan). The magician attempts to use his tricks and illusions to win back the heart of his love interest.
Carina Lau and Tony Leung at the premiere
Zhou Xun (Sina-gallery)
CF: ”Viral Factor” Actress Lin Peng in Harper’s Bazaar’s Short Film
The film explores the aesthetics of violence, interpreting them in a gothic way. Actress Lin uses her fighting spirit in “Reversion” and “Viral Factor” alike, presenting action-packed visuals.
CF: Release Date Confirmed for “Love in the Buff”
Director Peng reduced some sensitive plot elements but still kept the essential parts of the movie. “Dirty talk is part and parcel of Cantonese. We don’t even mean to insult other people when we talk that way. So I had to keep some of the lines.” He is very confident about the movie, appreciating the magnificent chemistry between the Hong Kong and Mainland actors.
“The Flowers of War” stayed at the top of the box office again this New Year holiday week, taking in $20.86 million over seven days. This highest-ever-budget movie has already become the top grossing Chinese film of 2011. And just like last week, “Flying Swords of Dragon Gate” was No. 2 in mainland and “Dear Enemy” was No. 3.
On the set photos of Yang Mi’s latest movie, “A Brief Run”, about parkour, starring Tian Liang and Mickey He Shengming.It’s described as a inspirational public service movie about going for your dreams.
Mickey He, Yang Mi
Former Olympic diver Tian Liang, Qi Wei, Mickey He, Yang Mi
Shu Qi-Wang Lee-Hom
The Liberty Times speculated that the two spent their rumored Bali trip celebrating the critical success of Chinglish, a theatrical production by Chinese-American playwright David Henry Hwang that uses 11 of Wang’s songs. Time magazine placed it at number three in its list of last year’s top 10 Broadway shows.
While one tabloid has reported that Gaile had gone to San Francisco on Dec 26 to prepare for the birth of her baby, another magazine had claimed that the model had already miscarried.
In separate news, hubby Leon had recently bought a mansion in San Francisco, which is estimated to worth HK$4 million.
The new love nest is speculated to be a home for Gaile to nurse her pregnancy.
The model hinted that a celebrity almost ruined her relationship with hubby Daniel Wu
MSN: Cecilia Cheung to salvage marriage?
The Hong Kong actress was said to have sought help from a feng shui master
MSN: Nicholas Tse claims reconciliation with Cecilia Cheung is impossible
The actor denied the rumours, saying, “It’s impossible [for us to reconcile].” Nicholas also jokingly said, “That’s why I brought a gun today”, before adding seriously, “Be good, don’t believe [the rumour], it’s not true.”
Stamp marking China’s Year of the Dragon provokes criticism that image is too ferocious
China’s Scary-Looking Dragon Stamp Sparks Debate
When asked if this year’s dragon stamp looked scary, Ms. Feng from the Beijing post office said, “It looks fierce, but since it’s the design of the one on the emperor’s robe, it actually looks more majestic.”
China’s first dragon stamp - 1878
January 5, 2012
January 5, 2012 [HKMDB Daily News]
CRI: Nicholas Tse Working on ‘Disappeared Bullets’
On January 4, media outlets were given access to the set. Five male cast members, including Sean Lau Ching-wan, Nicholas Tse, Liu Kai-chi, Wu Gang and Jing Boran, made an appearance on the set, though female lead Yang Mi was absent.
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Tse and actress Yang Mi are emotionally involved within the plot of the upcoming film “Disappeared Bullets”. Regarding their on-screen relationship Tse said, “Although I’ve acted in many films, I have never shot such an intimate, emotional drama”.
FBA: Lost For Words speaks English in HK
FBA: Great Wall My Love review
Engaging chemistry between its leads makes this odd-couple road movie a light delight.
CF: Proposing Moment in “Romancing in Thin Air”
Co-directed by Johnny To and Wai Ka-Fai, soon-to-be-released romance “Romancing in Thin Air” unveiled a batch of new still photos featuring Louis Koo and Gao Yuanyuan. The movie is slated for release on February 9.
Giddens Ko’s “Killer Who Never Kills” Mainland poster
International version (Sina), 2
Chu Yin-Ping’s romance film “Pefect Two” has had its new still photos featuring Yang Mi and Ella, two of whom are rivals in love. In the film, tomboy Ella has to do everything to win the heart she loves.
Bus advert with Chrissie Chau for “Bauhinia Heroine” (or Bauhinia Woman), a 2013 release (Sina)
“All’s Well Ends Well 2012″ stills with Louis Koo
Aaron Kwok - Hong Kong Coliseum
MSN: Aaron Kwok falls from 3-metre high concert platform
The accident happened on the final night of his world tour
The 46-year-old, who impressed audiences with his numerous acrobatic stunts during the concert, added that it is these unexpected occurrences which keep him hankering after the stage.
Aaron also took a spill when he missed a trampoline when he tried to perform a flip! (Sina)
Aaron Kwok backstage
Aaron’s friends attending concert
Carina Lau
Qi Qi
Lynn Hung
Donnie Yen and wife, Cissy Wang
Real Ting, Mr Miriam Yeung (Sina-slideshow)
CNA: Ncholas Tse on rumours of him reuniting with ex-wife: “It is all false”
Reporters then asked if Andy would stop work to keep his wife company.
“I’ve to finish two movies I have on hand first. I’ll be heading to China to film Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains after the New Year. After which, I’ll film another movie with director Johnnie To in Hong Kong, scheduled to be released in March,” the actor said, suggesting that he would be spending most of his time in Hong Kong after February.
The picture, taken at a beach, was accompanied with the caption: “Every willful and naïve mother will always have a gentle and understanding daughter.”
Dou Jing Tong (right)
Curious netizens had also conducted a search for the identities of the pair.
But before they could find out anything, filmmaker Stephen Shiu revealed the answer.
According to the producer of the world’s first 3D porn film Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy, the woman in the video is model Tess Chu.
Tess has, however, denied this, saying she had chicken pox and was resting at home on the day the video was said to have been filmed.
































































































